College Credit in 8th Grade
Students who are ready begin earning ASU college credit in 8th grade through ASU Accelerate, before they set foot in high school. It transfers.
Phoenix Middle School, Grades 6–8College credit starts in 8th grade.
A 12:1 student-teacher ratio. A dog on campus every day. Social skills taught like a real subject.
The Gateway Difference
The numbers behind the fit.
- $0
- Tuition with Arizona ESA
- 12:1
- Student–teacher ratio
- 8th
- Grade college credit begins
The program
What a Gateway middle school day looks like.
Rigorous Core Curriculum
A full college-prep core — English, math, science, history — taught by subject expert teachers who know the content and know the students.
Learning How to Learn
Planning, organization, time management, and self-advocacy taught directly every week, not assumed.
Minecraft Education
Students build, code, and solve real problems — STEM and creative thinking in a format that clicks.
The classes, grade by grade.
6th grade
- Foundations of Literature
- Foundations of Mathematics
- Foundations of Science
- Global Connections & Empires
- Art Explorers
- Tech/STEAM
- Peer Relationships
- Physical Education
- Instrumental Music
7th grade
- Reading & Writing Works
- Mathematical Applications
- Integrated Science
- Exploring Early Societies
- Art in Motion
- STEAM II
- Tech/STEAM
- Peer Relationships
- Physical Education
- Instrumental Music
8th grade
- Language Arts: Preparing for HS
- Pre-Algebra & Analytics
- Physical & Applied Science
- Civics & Early America
- Career Exploration
- Portfolio Prep
- Peer Relationships
- Physical Education
- Instrumental Music
Math, step by step.
- Foundations of Mathematics6th grade
- Mathematical Applications7th grade
- Pre-Algebra & Analytics8th grade
- Algebra I9th grade, High School
Eighth graders who are ready can also start ASU courses through ASU Accelerate.
Middle SchoolGrades 6–8
- Morning Recess8:30 – 8:50 AM
- Homeroom8:50 – 8:55 AM
- 0 Period9:00 – 9:40 AM
- 1st Period9:45 – 10:25 AM
- 2nd Period10:30 – 11:10 AM
- 3rd Period11:15 – 11:55 AM
- Lunch12:00 – 12:40 PM
- 4th Period12:45 – 1:25 PM
- 5th Period1:30 – 2:10 PM
- 6th Period2:15 – 2:55 PM
- 7th Period3:00 – 3:40 PM
Bell times shift on early-release days, and are suspended during testing windows and special events.
UCLA PEERS, Social Skills
Social skills, actually taught.
Most schools talk about social skills. Gateway teaches them, as a real class, with real practice, using UCLA PEERS — a curriculum developed at the UCLA Semel Institute for neurodivergent adolescents. Alongside it, every student gets pragmatic language support, individual counseling, and sensory strategies woven through the day.
- Making friendsHow friendships actually form, and how to start one.
- Reading the roomPicking up on cues, tone, and timing in real conversations.
- Handling conflictWhat to do when something goes wrong, and how to repair it.
- Keeping friendsTurning a new connection into one that lasts.
Meet Apollo & Athena
Apollo and Athena are here every day!
They’re Gateway’s therapy dogs. When a student needs a break, they can go see the dogs, take a walk in the atrium, or sit in the Peace Room, then head back to class.
My son used to dread every school morning. Now he asks if it's a school day so he can see his friends. That shift happened in the first semester at Gateway.
Come see it for yourself.
Rolling admissions, grades 6–8. Tours available any weekday.